The effect of combined administration of 1000 i.u/100g body weight (bd.wt.) vitamin A and 100 mg/kg bd wt. vitamin C to Trypanosoma brucei brucei-infected rats daily for twenty-one days was investigated. The anaemia caused by T. brucei infection in rats not administered the vitamins was significantly (P<0.05) more severe than that recorded in the group of infected rats given the daily doses of the vitamins. Indices of hepatic function such as serum alanine-and aspartate transaminases, and serum alkaline phosphatase activities as well as indices of renal function such as serum urea and creatinine levels were all significantly (P<0.05) elevated above levels in uninfected rats by T. brucei infection. However, combined administration of vitamins A and C to infected animals prevented the diseaseinduced increases in these parameters. T. brucei infection also caused significant hepatomegaly and splenomegaly in vitamin-free rats; however administration of the vitamins to infected rats completely prevented the hepatomegaly but only partially prevented the splenomegaly caused by infection. It was concluded that intraperitoneally administered vitamins A and C alleviated T. brucei-induced anaemia and organ damage.

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A survey to assess the production pattern of backvard pig raising in Kaduna Metropolis was carried out using structured questionnaires. A total of 170 farmers were randomly selected for the study. 42.94% of the respondents were traders, 24.71% civil servants, 19.41% crop farmers and 5.88% were students. More women (61.76%) than men (38.23%) kept backyard pigs with herd size of 2-10 pigs. Most (86.50%) of the pigs were of the indigenous breed and are raised as a secondary source of income for the family. Management system was mostly extensive (71.24%), but majority of the producers (98.2496) fed kitchen wastes, vegetables and agro-industrial by-products as supplement. About 58. 40% of the farmers interviewed used mud-bricks with thatched roof and rammed earth floor to house their pigs over night, while 55.20% used cement blocks with zinc roof. Most of the farmers (98.20%) reported incredible market age of 11/2 years and sold their pigs live. Mortality was generally high, but was higher for young piglets than for adults and was mainly due to diseases and poor management. Only 58.82% of the respondents applied medications to their pigs, mostly against worms. Among the identified constraints to improved production are high cost and non-availability of compound fornula feeds, difficulties in obtaining bank loans, lack of organised Markets for pigs, high incidence of diseases, accidental mortality, poor management, inadequate veterinary services and lack of title to land. About 92.94% of the respondents found pig raising to be profitable. The survey showed that pig productivity into Nigeria's urban settings could be enhanced if adequate attention is paid to the removal of identified constraints to production.